Yeah another radio thread -- Stereo Upgrade

Just a thought on the multiple sources/multiple zone. I attempted to do this with a Apollo 770 at the helm and a MS -AV755 (with a DVD player) in the cabin.

It never really worked as I intended and I finally pulled the MS-Av755 and sold it this year. The kids listen to hinges on own devices via headphones.

I’m going back to 1 head unit, and a couple amps with 4 zones. It’s just easier.
 
dtfeld said:
... I’m going back to 1 head unit, and a couple amps with 4 zones. It’s just easier.
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Boats are too small to have multiple sources playing at levels the individuals like. Hell I have multiple zones in the house and the place it really works well is one outside or garage, possibly master bath and the rest inside the house. Not in the living room or kitchen playing different music that's for sure. Couldn't imagine the boat doing that.
 
dtfeld said:
Just a thought on the multiple sources/multiple zone. I attempted to do this with a Apollo 770 at the helm and a MS -AV755 (with a DVD player) in the cabin.

It never really worked as I intended and I finally pulled the MS-Av755 and sold it this year. The kids listen to hinges on own devices via headphones.

I’m going back to 1 head unit, and a couple amps with 4 zones. It’s just easier.
Click to expand...
SKybolt said:
Boats are too small to have multiple sources playing at levels the individuals like. Hell I have multiple zones in the house and the place it really works well is one outside or garage, possibly master bath and the rest inside the house. Not in the living room or kitchen playing different music that's for sure. Couldn't imagine the boat doing that.
Click to expand...
Scenario 1 - Kentucky Derby. Had it on the televisions in the cabin and on the bridge. The bridge TV is tied into the Fusion RA770 via optical cable and the cabin TV is connected to the Bose Lifestyle system via Optical cable. Both systems are fed from the KVH DSS antenna/DSS receiver via HDMI. Folks could be in the air conditioned cabin watching and on the bridge watching all in stereo. There is a slight audio timing mismatch between the two systems but as long as the door is closed all is OK.
Scenario 2 - DSS or CD music in the cabin through the Bose (in my case) for the young crowd and all other areas on the boat DSS, Sirius, Streaming, or Radio music from the Fusion.
Scenario 3 - Zone 4 of the Fusion is changed to Line Out (a Fusion setting for constant voltage) and that is connected to the Bose system via a pair of RCA cables. So whatever music the Fusion is playing is being played throughout the entire boat but tone and volume in the cabin completely controlled by the Bose (the Bose Aux In) and the volume and tone for the two zones (bridge and cockpit) are independently controlled by the Fusion
Scenario 4 - The cabin televisions playing whatever they want and the Bose system providing that audio. The other areas of the boat any music the Fusion can provide.

So, keeping both audio heads provides some enhanced features and flexibility. I know this is beyond what the OP is asking but I wanted to illustrate the capabilities and we use them.
 
If you want to stay simple, the little fusion ra70NSX interfaces with both NMEA2000 and XM plus it works with the ANT remotes.

I ended up getting 3 remotes for my Sundeck. Nothing fancy, it just works
 
And I have 3 of the $50 ANT remotes. Plus a smart watch. More important to be able to adjust things IMHO
 
ttmott said:
Scenario 1 - Kentucky Derby. Had it on the televisions in the cabin and on the bridge. The bridge TV is tied into the Fusion RA770 via optical cable and the cabin TV is connected to the Bose Lifestyle system via Optical cable. Both systems are fed from the KVH DSS antenna/DSS receiver via HDMI. Folks could be in the air conditioned cabin watching and on the bridge watching all in stereo. There is a slight audio timing mismatch between the two systems but as long as the door is closed all is OK.
Scenario 2 - DSS or CD music in the cabin through the Bose (in my case) for the young crowd and all other areas on the boat DSS, Sirius, Streaming, or Radio music from the Fusion.
Scenario 3 - Zone 4 of the Fusion is changed to Line Out (a Fusion setting for constant voltage) and that is connected to the Bose system via a pair of RCA cables. So whatever music the Fusion is playing is being played throughout the entire boat but tone and volume in the cabin completely controlled by the Bose (the Bose Aux In) and the volume and tone for the two zones (bridge and cockpit) are independently controlled by the Fusion
Scenario 4 - The cabin televisions playing whatever they want and the Bose system providing that audio. The other areas of the boat any music the Fusion can provide.

So, keeping both audio heads provides some enhanced features and flexibility. I know this is beyond what the OP is asking but I wanted to illustrate the capabilities and we use them.
Click to expand...

I had originally set something like this up and found it to be too much. Three tv's playing different things and the salon surround sound competing with the cockpit stereo etc. I have since simplified things a bit. Since the last kid went to collage, I changed all tv's to play the same thing and the stereo does the same thing. The surround sound can still be playing a movie and the cockpit music, but we tend to not do that.
 
Thank you for verifying that!
SKybolt said:
Ok so first of all sorry for the bad pics, I didn't check them after I took the shot.

But as @Chris-380 Chris said, when changing the volume using "All" all of the volume leves will change with the "All" level. I used the ERX400 remote, I did not try the head unit, but believe it is the same. The phone app reacted the same way. @ttmott Tom I didn't try the NRX300 because it's a bit of a PITA to change it to all. Going to assume that will work the same way, but is that where the issue is, with the NRX300?

View attachment 141622

View attachment 141623


Sorry @Golfman25 for changing the topic. Hopefully you will find this info useful.
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ANT remotes are brilliant. Volume up&down, stop, rewind, and fast forward. They are the epitome of KISS. They are the only thing on the boat that always works:)
 
SKybolt said:
Absolutely, if the RCA's are being used then there are amp(s) somewhere being used. If the internal speaker out(s) have wires connected to them then there are also speakers connected as well. Yes I stated the obvious, but I would, with all zones on, disconnect one RCA at a time and note what stops playing. Then disconnect all of the RCA's and you can hear what is directly connected to the head unit. My guess is the cabin speakers are the internal amp and the cockpit speakers are the external amp.

EDIT: I should add that if you trace the RCA wires out, you will find where the amp(s) is.
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So more digging today. The regular speaker wiring powers the inside cabin speakers -- front to the stateroom, Rear to the main part of the cabin. The RCA wires power the cockpit -- the front powers the 4 cockpit speakers, the rear/sub power the sub at the helm. All are on at once and volume controls both sets at their different levels.

Still can't figure out where the amp is. Wonder if it is a small one tucked away somewhere.

So maybe best is look at a two zone head unit -- plug zone 1 via the mysterious amp. And zone 2 for the cabin. Call it a day.

But did find out I have the Sirus/XM receiver as well. Kind of a nice bonus find as we like to listen to it.
 
In my 2000 380 DA the amp is mounted under the distribution panel, behind the backrest of the long couch
 
Golfman25 said:
So more digging today. The regular speaker wiring powers the inside cabin speakers -- front to the stateroom, Rear to the main part of the cabin. The RCA wires power the cockpit -- the front powers the 4 cockpit speakers, the rear/sub power the sub at the helm. All are on at once and volume controls both sets at their different levels.

Still can't figure out where the amp is. Wonder if it is a small one tucked away somewhere.

So maybe best is look at a two zone head unit -- plug zone 1 via the mysterious amp. And zone 2 for the cabin. Call it a day.

But did find out I have the Sirus/XM receiver as well. Kind of a nice bonus find as we like to listen to it.
Click to expand...

Well you definitely have an amp somewhere. You should be able to trace the rca's to the amp(s). I get it's more work then you to do but probably worth it to find out what you have. Good luck!
 
Golfman25 said:
So 1998 370 Sundancer. Have an old Clarion M303 with the cd changer in the cabin. Remote at the helm. No amps that I can find. Runs 4 speakers and a sub in the cockpit. Also looks like it runs the cabin speakers as well. Handles bluetooth streaming, which is basically all we use these days.

Cold rainy day, so dreaming of an upgrade. Question is replace the unit in the cabin with a multi zone unit -- cabin and cockpit? Or just add a new unit at the helm (cabin unit would stay run the cabin), with amp. to run sub and 4 speakers? Seems like adding at the helm would be "easy," no long runs in the cabin.

What say you?
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I yanked all the old Clarion stuff - head unit, CD changer, speakers & sub in the cockpit (kept all speakers in the salon/vberth). Replaced with a Fusion MS-BB100, 4 Clarion CMSP-651-SWG, and 1 Clarion CMSP-101RGB sub (these are Clarion's Premium line speakers/sub and provide great bang for the "boat buck"). Kept the original Clarion amp - if it ain't broke, why fix it?! Mounted the MS-BB100 behind the MFD. Note: the BB100 comes with a small round hardwired remote that fits perfectly where the old Clarion remote was located. Download the Fusion app on your phone, and you can control everything via bluetooth anywhere on the boat. BTW, ordered everything from Crutchfield. Now just gotta figure out how to fill the hole where all the old stuff was in the cabin!
 
Found the amps. Behind the settee back. The are NESA amps -- never heard of them. http://nesavision.com/ Anyone know anything

Have a TD-45 -- 4 channel, 1200 watts. And a TD-80 -- mono 2300 watts, driving the subwoofer. I assume they aren't stock?

Anyway, glad I found them. Need to replace the sub speaker this year. And maybe the 4 in the cockpit. Now I know what I need in terms of power.
 
Golfman25 said:
Found the amps. Behind the settee back. The are NESA amps -- never heard of them. http://nesavision.com/ Anyone know anything

Have a TD-45 -- 4 channel, 1200 watts. And a TD-80 -- mono 2300 watts, driving the subwoofer. I assume they aren't stock?

Anyway, glad I found them. Need to replace the sub speaker this year. And maybe the 4 in the cockpit. Now I know what I need in terms of power.
Click to expand...
@Wylie_Tunes
 
Golfman25 said:
Found the amps. Behind the settee back. The are NESA amps -- never heard of them. http://nesavision.com/ Anyone know anything

Have a TD-45 -- 4 channel, 1200 watts. And a TD-80 -- mono 2300 watts, driving the subwoofer. I assume they aren't stock?

Anyway, glad I found them. Need to replace the sub speaker this year. And maybe the 4 in the cockpit. Now I know what I need in terms of power.
Click to expand...
Doesn't look like it's worth a whole lot. https://www.google.com/search?q=TD-...=1280&bih=616&dpr=1.5#spd=8562857866824290822
 
Chris-380 said:
Anytime I hear 2300 watt amp, I think they are probably junk. That’s just experience, the good amps give a conservative rating imo
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Yeah. Looks like a cheapy knock off thing. Used to buy stuff like that when I was a kid with my first car.

Probably run it this year and see how it does.
 
Golfman25 said:
Yeah. Looks like a cheapy knock off thing. Used to buy stuff like that when I was a kid with my first car.

Probably run it this year and see how it does.
Click to expand...
Yep, I'd run it. Get the speakers/sub that you would buy if you could replace everything now.
Do the amps next year.
 
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